Summary

Becky Lynch defeated AJ Lee to win the Women's Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania 42 Saturday. The match saw Lynch control stretches early, AJ fight back with the Black Widow and a near fall off her own Manhandle Slam, and the closing sequence turn on a distraction involving referee Jessica Carr.

Match recap

The presentation leaned big from the start. The Wonder Years performed for Lynch's entrance, while AJ arrived with several kids dressed like her on stage.

Once the bell rang, Lynch opened with strong momentum, mixing in a top-rope leg drop and an exploder suplex. She also tried to expose the top turnbuckle, but Carr stopped her before that could directly change the match. AJ still managed to capitalize when Lynch's focus drifted.

Lynch later hit the Manhandle Slam and could not keep AJ down. AJ answered with a Manhandle Slam of her own after a tense exchange involving Carr, but Lynch kicked out there as well. AJ then trapped Lynch in the Black Widow, only for Lynch to escape before the finish.

Becky Lynch leaves WrestleMania 42 with the title

The end came when Lynch pulled Carr in front of her, then sent AJ into the exposed turnbuckle while the referee was not looking. Lynch followed with another Manhandle Slam and got the pin to leave Las Vegas as champion.

That finish gave Lynch a major WrestleMania moment and paid off some of the pre-show buzz around the match after WrestleMania 42 betting odds listed her among Saturday's favorites. It also gives WWE a clear next direction for the Women's Intercontinental Championship, because AJ now has an obvious complaint after the title changed hands through a referee distraction and an exposed turnbuckle.

Winner

Becky Lynch defeated AJ Lee via pinfall after a Manhandle Slam following AJ being sent into the exposed turnbuckle.

Sources

As reported by NoDQ